PRO Nobis Singers are 'in concert' at Holy Trinity and St George Catholic Church on Sunday (April 2, 2.30pm) when, with an invited orchestra and organist Ian Pattinson, they perform an all French programme, which includes Faure's star pieces, Requiem and his Cantique de Jean Racine, along with motets by Durufle, Messiaen, Poulenc and Villette. Conducted by musical director Clive Walkley, in the solo spotlight will be bass/baritone Jonathan Millican, and Kirkby Lonsdale's Queen Elizabeth School sixth former, Katie Whittaker, who'll be soprano soloist in Faure's Requiem.

Born in 1845 at Pamiers in the south of France, Gabriel Faure rose to become one of the most influential French composers of all time, linking the end of Romanticism with the beginnings of the modern era.

He was a brilliant composer, one of the choral greats, nowhere better demonstrated than in his Cantique de Jean Racine. Composed in 1865, it’s a precursor to the Requiem, with similarly lush, intense choral writing layered on top of organ accompaniment. As with the Requiem, it takes a religious text as its inspiration - in this case, words by the French playwright Jean Racine.

Faure studied composition at the École Niedermeyer in Paris, and submitted the piece for the school’s composition competition. He won first prize which spurred him on to write more religious music.

Despite coming in for some criticism during his lifetime for a failure to embrace larger-scale works, Faure refused to move away from chamber music and elegant choral miniatures.

He was hugely popular in the UK; he even played at Buckingham Palace in 1908, and attended the London premiere of Elgar's First Symphony that year, joining him for dinner after the performance.

Gabriel Faure's Requiem is regarded as one of the most beautiful melodies ever composed and will no doubt be exquisitely performed alongside Cantique de Jean Racine, and the other sacred French works, by Clive's distinguished choristers.

Programmes are available from Northern Lights Stained Glass at Kendal or by telephone on 01539-723482.

For further information visit www.pronobis-singers.com.